Slide fastener



F. M U LKA SLIDE FASTENER Dec. 25, 1956 Filed Dec. l5, 1950 UnitedStates Patent O SLIDE FASTENER Friedrich Mulka, Wewelsburg, nearPaderborn, Germany Application December 13, 1950, Serial No. 200,663

Claims priority, application Germany December 13, 1949 Claims. (Cl.24--205.1)

The present invention relates to a slide fastener and to a method forproducing Vthe same.

In the prior slide fasteners the fastener elements are attached to theStringer tapes either by being seated on and clamped to a ridge formedby the Stringer tape or by being embedded in elastic profiled strips ofa plastic. Both kinds of fasteners are expensive to manufacture.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a slide fastener inwhich the fastener elements are securely attached to ordinary plaintapes consisting of any de- Sired material.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a slidefastener forming a sealed connection using ordinary plain tapes of anydesired material.

According to the present invention the marginal zones of the tapes arefolded so as to embrace the fastening elements which are firmly held inposition within the 'folds by clamps embracing the folds from theoutside.

The novel slide fastener is much cheaper since it does not depend on theuse of special tapes provided with a ridge but can be combined withtapes of any desired material. Moreover it permits to obtain an air orwater tight connection which also prevents the passage of dust.

Further features of the present invention will appear from thedescription of two preferred embodiments thereof illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in Which- Fig. l is a plan view, partly shown insection, of the novel slide fastener, the section being taken along line1-1 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 2 is the cross-section taken through the slide fastener rshown inFig. l, said section being taken along line 2 2 of Fig. l,

Fig. 3 is a cross-section through one of the Stringer tapes of amodified embodiment of my invention, said section being taken along line3-3 of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 4 is a partial section taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

The two stringer tapes a and b which may consist of any desired textileor other pliable material are each provided with a row of fastenerelements c, each such element being formed by a at member having anarrow head g at its outer end, a riveted head h at its other end and twohooks i between its ends. Each Stringer tape a forms a longitudinal foldof S-shaped cross-section, as will appear from Fig. 2. The fastenerelements are inserted in the outer loop of the longitudinal fold theirarrow heads projecting from the fold. The loop of the tape enclosing thefastener elements is embraced by outer U- shaped sheet-metal clamps dwhich press the material of the tape firmly upon the upper and lowerfaces of the fastener elements.

In the embodiment shown the ends of the fastening elements c extendthrough the tape a, or b respectively7 and through the clamp d and areriveted to form the heads h whereby the fastening elements, the tape a,or b respectively, and the clamp d are firmly united. If desired, thefastening elements, however, may be attached to the 2,775,0l2 PatentedDec. 25, 1956 f. ICC

clamps d by soldering, welding, cementing or by a pressing operation ora chemical fusing operation.

The customary slider e which serves to open and close the interlockingrows of fastener elements c embraces the clamps d as shown in Fig. 2.The lower arms of the clamps d have downwardly bent ends which in closedcondition firmly press the tapes a and b one upon another therebyforming a sealed closure. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the clamps d havechannel guidable cross-Sections, shown as generally rectangular herein,and the slider has channels for gnidingly cooperating therewith, thusaligning the heads g of each row of fastener elements with the spacesbetween the fold-embraced elements of .the other row during the closingof the fasteners. As shown in Figs. 2p, 3 and 4, the clamps d haveterminal end portions facing the line of interengagement of the fastenerelements and spaced from that line by distances less than theuncompressed thickness of the strips, andthe Strip material of each ofthe exposed tapes is of a thickness such that it projects slightlybeyond said line of interengagement so that on closing of the fastenerthe tape materials are compressed together at both sides of theinterengaged rows of fastener elements. With this arrangement normallateral pull on the tapes tending to reduce the compression thereof atone side of the row of interengaged fasteners tends to increase thecompression thereof at the other side of the row maintaining a tightSeal.

In addition to compressing against each other at both sides of thefastener, the material ofthe strips may be compressed against the lineof interengagement of the fastener elements. Thus in the form shown,when the fastener is closed, the compressed material of the strips bearsagainst Side faces of the fastener heads adjacent the line ofinterengagement that corresponds to the Vline of the base of thefastener head, shown as having a generally isosceles trapezoidalcross-section in Fig. 4.

The embodiment illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 differs from that shown inFigs. 1 and 2 by the fact that the top faces and the bottom faces of thefastening elements 2 have indentations and that the clamps 1 have innerprojections 3a which register with the indentations rso as to press thetape 3 into said indentations. Owing to this arrangement the materialtof the tape 3 is firmly pressed into the indentations of the fasteningelements 2 whereby the latter will be more firmly united with the tape 3and with the clamps 1.

The term tape as used hereinabove and in the appended claims isVintended to include any piece of cloth having an edge to be fitted witha slide fastener. AS above mentioned, the tapes are planar and mayconsist of any desired material that, like cloth, is a flexible,compressible, and foldable, sheet-like material capable of bending topermit opening and closing of the fastener, and the term individual tomeans that each fastener element has its own attaching portion andclamping element, not shared with any other.

Preferably, the inner projections 3a of the clamps l are formed byindenting the clamp as shown at 4.

While l have illustrated my linvention by reference to two preferredembodiments thereof, I wish it to be clearly understood that the same isnot limited to the details thereof but is capable of numerousmodifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A sli-de fastener, comprising, in combination, a pair of opposedStringer tapes, each being formed with a longitudinal fold; a row offastening elements associated with each of said Stringer tapes, eachelement having a locking portion adapted to cooperate With the lockingportion of an opposed element and an attaching portion located withinthe fold of the tape; a row of clamping elements associated with each ofSaid Stringer tapes, each clamping element corresponding to onefastening element and embracing the outside of a fold in that regionthereof Where the attaching portion of the corresponding fasteningelement is located within the fold, firmly clamping the fold to saidportion of the elements; and a Slider cooperating with said fasteningelements for connecting and disconneet-ing the fastening portionsthereof and thereby closing and opening the slide fastener.

2. A slide fastener, comprising, in combination, a pair of opposedStringer tapes, each being formed with a longitudinal fold of S-shapedcross-section; a row of fastening elements associated with each of saidStringer tapes, each elemen-t having a locking portion adapted tocooperate With the locking portion of an opposed element and anattaching portion located Within the fold of the tape; a row of clampingelements associated with each of said Stringer tapes, each clampingelement corresponding to one fastening element having substantiallyU-shaped cross-sections, and embracing the outside of a fold in thatregion thereof Where the attaching portion of the correspondingfastening element is located Within the fold, firmly clamping the foldto said portion of the elements; and a slider cooperating with saidfastening elements for connecting and disconnecting the fasteningportions thereof and thereby closing and opening the slide fastener.

3. A slide fastener, comprising, in combination, a pair of opposedStringer tapes, each being formed with a longitudinal fold; a row offastening elements associated with each of said Stringer tapes, eachelement having a locking portion adapted to cooperate with the lockingportion of an opposed element and an attaching porti-on provided with atleast one indentation located within the fold of the tape; a row ofclamping elements associated with each of said stringer tapes, eachclamping element corresponding to one fastening element, havin-g a-tleast one projection registering with the indentation of the attachingportion of the fastening element and embracing the outside of a fold inthat region thereof Where the attaching portion of the correspondingfastening element is located within the fold, firmly clamping the foldto said portion of the elements; and a slider cooperating with saidfastening elements for connecting and disconnecting the fasteningportions thereof and thereby closing and opening the slide fastener.

4. A Slide fastener, comprising, in combination, a pair of opposedStringer tapes. each being formed with a longitudinal fold; a row offastening ele-ments associated with each of said Stringer tapes, eachelement having a locking portion adapted to cooperate with the lockingportion of an opposed element and an attaching portion provided with aprojecting stud located within the fold of the tape, said stud piercingsaid tape; a plurality of clamping elements each having a substantiallyU-shaped crosssection and being formed With an opening registering withSaid stud, embracing the outside of a fold in tha-t region thereof wherethe attaching portion of an element is located within the fold andhaving said projecting stud located within and riveted over said openingand firmly clamping the `fold to .said portion of the elements; and aslider cooperating With said fastening elementsI for connecting anddisconnecting the fastening portions thereof an-d thereby closing andopening the slide fastener.

5. A slide fastener, comprising, in combination, a pair of opposedStringer tapes, each being formed with a longitudinal fold; a row offastening elements associated with each of said Stringer tapes, eachelement having a locking portion adapted to cooperate with the lockingportion of an opposed element and van attaching portion provided with aprojecting pointed stud located within the fold of the tape, said studpiercing said tape; a plurality of clamping elements each having aSubstantially U-Shaped cross-Section and being formed with an opening atthe bend of the U registering with said stud embracing the outside of afold in that region thereof Where the attaching portion of an element islocated within the fold and having said projecting stud located Withinand riveted over said opening and firmly clamping the fold to Saidportion of the elements; and a slider cooperating with said fasteningelements for connecting and disconnecting the fastening portions thereofand thereby closing and opening the slide fastener.

`6. An attachment arrangement for securing a slide fastener element to aStringer tape, comprising, in combination, a longitudinal fold formed insaid Stringer tape along the edge thereof; an attaching portion on saidslide fastener element formed with an indentation therein located withinsaid fold of said Stringer tape; and a clamping element having aprojection registering with said indentation on the attaching portion ofsaid fastener element firmly embracing the outside of the fold in saidStringer tape in that region thereof Where said attaching portion ofSaid slide fastener element is located within said fold so as to clampsaid Stringer tape permanently to said slide fastener element.

7. An attachment arrangement for Securing a slide fastener element to aStringer tape, comprising, in combination, a longitudinal fold formed insaid Stringer tape along the edge thereof; an attaching portion on saidslide fastener element provided with a flat top face and a flat bottomface, each base being formed with an indentation therein, located withinsaid fold of said Stringer tape; and a clamping element provided with apair of opposed projections firmly embracing the outside of the fold insaid Stringer tape in that region thereof Where said attaching portionof said slide fastener element is located Within said fold so as topress said Stringer tape firmly between the projections into theindentations of the attaching portion of said slide fastener element.

8. An attachment arrangement for securing a slide fastener element to aStringer tape, comprising, in combination, a longitudinal fold formed insaid Stringer tape along the edge thereof; an attaching portion on saidslide fastener element provided with a projecting stud located Withinsaid fold of said Stringer tape; and a clamping element having asubstantially U-shaped cross-section formed with an opening thereinregistering with Said stud receiving Said Stud and firmly embracing theoutside of the fold in said Stringer tape in that region thereof Wheresaid attaching portion of Said slide fastener element is located withinsaid fold so as to clamp said Stringer tape permanently to said slidefastener element.

9. An attachment arrangement for securing a slide fastener element to aStringer tape, comprising, in combination, a longitudinal fold formed insaid Stringer tape along the edge thereof; an attaching portion on saidslide fastener element provided with a pointed projecting stud locatedwithin said fold of said Stringer tape and piercing the fold of saidStringer tape; and a clamping element having a Substantially U-shapedcross-Section formed with an opening therein registering with said studreceiving said stud and firmly embracing the outside of the fold in saidStringer tape in that region thereof where said attaching portion ofsaid slide fastener element is located Within said fold so as to clampsaid Stringer tape permanently to said slide fastener element.

10. A slide fastener comprising, in combination, a pair of opposedStringer tapes each formed with a longitudinal fold spaced from the edgethereof; a row of fastener elements assembled with each of said Stringertapes, each fastening element having a locking portion adapted tocooperate with the locking portion of an opposing element and anattaching portion located Within the fold of the tape; a row of clampingelements associated with each of said Stringer tapes, each clampingelement corresponding to one fastening element and embracing the outsideof a fold in that region thereof Where the attaching portion of thecorresponding fastening element is located Within the fold and firmlyclamping the fold to said portion of the element; said clamping elementshaving terminal end ifs portions facing the locking portions of saidelements and spaced from the line of interengagement of said lockingportions by distances less than the thickness of the stringer tapes;said stringer tapes extending past said end portions and beingcompressed against each other on both the near and far sides of thefastening elements in the closed position of the fastener; and a slidercooperating with said fastening elements for connecting anddisconnecting the fastening portions thereof and thereby closing andopening the slide fastener.

ll. A slide fastener consisting solely of two stringer tapes of uniformthickness, two rows of fastening elements, two rows of clamp elementsand a slider; said fastener elements having interlocking heads ofapproximately isosccles trapezoidal longitudinal cross section withnarrow shanks extending from the bases thereof and with longitudinallywidened foot sections carried thereby and being assembled in rows withtheir heads and foot sections mutually spaced; said rows of fastenerelements having their foot and shank sections embraced withinlongitudinal folds of the stringer tapes with the stringer materialprojecting beyond the bases of the trapezoidal heads of the fastenerelements; said rows of clamp elements embracing the folds in said tapesand clamping said folds about the foot and shank portions of saidfastener elements, and being mutually spaced in alignment with themutual spacings of said foot sections; said foot and clamping elementshaving interengaging portions locking the same in fixed relation to saidfolded tapes; said clamping elements having terminal ends spaced fromthe bases of said trapez-oidal heads by distances less than theuncompressed thickness of the tapes; said tapes being compressedtogether on both the near and far sides of the fastening elements in theclosed position of the fastener; and said slider cooperating with saidfastening elements for bending the stringer tapes between the clampingelements and moving the heads of each row of fastening elements into thelongitudinal fold of the opposed stringer tape and between the Shanks ofthe companion row of fastener elements for closing the fastener and forreversing the operation for opening the fastener.

12. A slide fastener according to claim 11, in which said fastenerelements have their shank portions at least in part reduced in thicknessand in which said clamping elements have projections for registeringwith and pressing the tape into said reduced thickness parts.

13. An attachment arrangement for securing a series of separateindividual slide fastener elements to a stringer tape, comprising, incombination, a longitudinal fold formed in said stringer tape adjacentan edge thereof; attaching portions rigid with and individual to each ofthe slide fastener elements of said series, said attaching portionsbeing arranged in a row within said fold of said stringer tape; and aseries of clamping elements individual to said attaching portionsarranged in a row on the outside of the fold in said stringer tape, theclamping elements of said series of clamping elements being mutuallyspaced from each other and each being aligned with one of said attachingportions and permanently clamping said fold about said attachingportion.

14. An attachment arrangement for securing a series of individual slidefastener elements to a stringer tape, comprising, in combination, alongitudinal fold of SSB-shaped cross section formed in said stringertape adjacent an edge thereof; attaching portions rigid with andindividual to each of the slide fastener elements of said series, saidattaching portions being arranged in a row Within the fold of saidS-shaped fold more proximate to the said edge of said stringer tape; anda series of clamping elements individual to said attaching portionsarranged' in a row on the outside of said fold more proximate to saidedges of said tape, the clamping elements of said series of clampingelements being mutually spaced from each other and each being alignedwith one of said attaching portions and permanently clamping said foldproximate to said edge of the tape about said attaching portion of anindividual one of said row of attaching portions of said series offastener elements and permanentiy securing the tape to the fastenerelement in said fold.

15. An attachment arrangement for securing a series of individual slidefastener elements along a stringer tape, comprising, in combination, aiongitudinal fold formed in said stringer tape adjacent an edge thereof;attaching portions rigid with and individual to each of the slidefastener elements of said series, said attaching portions being arrangedin a row within said fold of said stringer tape of U--shaped crosssection; and a series of clamping elements arranged in a row on theoutside of the fold in said stringer tape, the clamping elements of saidseries of clamping elements being mutually spaced from each other andeach being aligned with one of said attaching portions and permanentlyclamping said fold about said attaching portion of an individual one ofsaid row of attaching portions of said series of fastener elements andpermanently securing the tape to the fastener element in said fold.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,128,334 Kuehn Feb. 16, 1915 1,719,856 Sipe .uly 9, 1929 2,120,924Stillschweig June 14, 1938 2,255,183 Ostwald Sept. 9, 1941 2,283,590Sundback May 19, 1942 2,397,331 Winterhalter Mar. 26, 1946 FOREIGNPATENTS 259,189 Germany of 1913 534,412 Great Britain of 1941

